Erith’s Potion bar faces licence axe after arrests and fights

Bar owners face losing their licence after a drunk woman was arrested for being in charge of a six month-old baby, cocaine was found in the toilets and a string of fights broke out between intoxicated customers.

Police have asked Bexley council to conduct a review of the licence at Potion in Erith High Street after 12 reported crimes involving drugs, violence or drunkenness were reported at the venue between May 2009 and January 2011.

The latest incident came on January 2 at 2.50pm when two drunk patrons were assaulted by a fellow customer who was arrested nearby.

This came after the arrest on Christmas Day, of a drunk 32-year-old woman in charge of a six-month-old baby, when it appeared she had been in the bar for more than seven hours.

The police letter to the council reads: “A majority of these offences are being generated by poor management at the premises and the lack of ability of the manager and staff to control the consumption of alcohol by their customers.”

When police asked for a meeting with the licence holders in January to discuss problems over the Christmas period, it was discovered that they had been operating with a designated premises supervisor.

Incidents date back to the summer 2009. In the August a drunk man was arrested outside the bar with a knife after being hit on the head with a bottle causing a two-inch cut to the head by customers from Potion.

On November 12 of the same year, at 7pm, a drunk customer rammed his car into the glass front door after he was refused service because of an argument inside with another drunk customer.

Last June police officers were assaulted in the beer garden when carrying a drugs search on a customer suspected of drug dealing.

The current licence holders took over in April 14, 2008. Residents have until next Wednesday (9) to make their submissions. The date for the hearing has yet to confirmed.

A spokesperson for the bar was unavailable to comment at the time of going to press.

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